Are online ANP degrees destroying our credibility?
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I was talking to a private practice doctor about an opening in his practice. Currently, I am employed by the hospital. He told me that they will only consider PA's due to having more of a hard... Read More

. You mean other than my experiences? I took some online classes and I have watched my coworkers take them for their Bsn. The fact is that I understand how it works. It's mostly discussion based with an exam at the end. If you get a 99 in discussion and a 74 on the one exam (the final), you end up with a b in the class. If you don't know the material, I have watched my coworkers have their kids post for them, their spouses, other nurses who are taking the same class take their quizzes, etc. all kinds of shenanigans.Then there is the product: makes no sense for an np to suck more than a pa...Prestige means nothing. I believe that these programs have several layers of graduates and are well aware of what sham products they are producing online. S o much subtlety...in learning from a preceptor of your choosing versus the university's choice, etc.

Well I have seen none of what you describe. I have also seen online programs what won't pass you if you fail the final regardless of your overall grade.

I also have seen many terrible PAs and many wonderful NPs.

I'm sorry you feel online students who graduate are shams. I've seen many people come out of non-online programs who are quite ignorant.

The good news for many is that your opinion doesn't seem to be changing how things are done. The online schools are thriving and we are all still taking our boards. So just because you graduate doesn't mean you will pass your boards. There is a checks and balance in place.

Well I have seen none of what you describe.I also have seen many terrible PAs and many wonderful NPs. I'm sorry you feel online students who graduate are shams. I've seen many people come out of non-online programs who are quite ignorant. The good news for many is that your opinion doesn't seem to be changing how things are done. The online schools are thriving and we are all still taking our boards. So just because you graduate doesn't mean you will pass your boards. There is a checks and balance in place.

There are none so blind as though that can not see.It does matter to me and to lots of people because when nps prove incompetent or to be of extremely variable competency, the jobs will dry up. Read through this thread, plenty of folks already complaining that docs would rather hire pas. Burying your head in the sand is not gonna solve that problem.

Jan 22, '13

And frankly, I feel badly for people doing online programs in some cases. They are getting little accountability from the programs and if they can't pass the boards, have wasted federal loan dollars.

There are none so blind as though that can not see.It does matter to me and to lots of people because when nps prove incompetent or to be of extremely variable competency, the jobs will dry up. Read through this thread, plenty of folks already complaining that docs would rather hire pas. Burying your head in the sand is not gonna solve that problem.

You think NP jobs are going away? Really. Okay. I'd continue the conversation but that belief makes me think you are slightly nuts. NP jobs aren't going anywhere. So have a nice day and enjoy your RN. Why are you even posting in the NP section since you clearly aren't one and don't plan to become one? That would be like me, an RN pursuing my NP, posting on a board for a PA or MD.

You think NP jobs are going away? Really. Okay. I'd continue the conversation but that belief makes me think you are slightly nuts. NP jobs aren't going anywhere. So have a nice day and enjoy your RN. Why are you even posting in the NP section since you clearly aren't one and don't plan to become one? That would be like me, an RN pursuing my NP, posting on a board for a PA or MD.

I'm not nuts at all. Take a look at what happened to the midwives. It used to be that my city had a thriving graduate program and plenty of practices that offered midwife deliveries. Now, there are very few midwives delivering and the school shut down. The docs have been aggressively pursuing them for a decade. It can and will happen to the nps if we refuse to learn from that example.all they need to do is tell the insurance companies to stop covering our care like they did with the midwives.Unfortunately, I will go to np school because there are no pa programs in the place we are moving. I refuse to go online.

I'm not nuts at all. Take a look at what happened to the midwives. It used to be that my city had a thriving graduate program and plenty of practices that offered midwife deliveries. Now, there are very few midwives delivering and the school shut down. The docs have been aggressively pursuing them for a decade. It can and will happen to the nps if we refuse to learn from that example.all they need to do is tell the insurance companies to stop covering our care like they did with the midwives.Unfortunately, I will go to np school because there are no pa programs in the place we are moving. I refuse to go online.

Are you serious? Midwifery isn't dying. It might not be good where you are but it's not dying.

So you are going to pursue a career in something you believe is going away. Okay. Have fun. You enjoy your tradition school. I will enjoy my online program at a top university. I will take, and pass, the same state exam you will take. Best of luck to you during the application and acceptance process. I hope it goes well for you and you enjoy a career as an NP even though you don't believe there's a future.

Are you serious? Midwifery isn't dying. It might not be good where you are but it's not dying.

So you are going to pursue a career in something you believe is going away. Okay. Have fun. You enjoy your tradition school. I will enjoy my online program at a top university. I will take, and pass, the same state exam you will take. Best of luck to you during the application and acceptance process. I hope it goes well for you and you enjoy a career as an NP even though you don't believe there's a future.

Totally sane.

What's insane is ignoring the Acog position Statement on midwifery but there was ok reason for you to be rude to be and call me insane not once but twice.

I believe we will need to protect our profession to keep it viable. My money is on getting a better job because I was on ground at yes, a top five ranked program. See you on the other side! I will pursue and land the job of my dreams.

What's insane is ignoring the Acog position Statement on midwifery but there was ok reason for you to be rude to be and call me insane not once but twice.

I believe we will need to protect our profession to keep it viable. My money is on getting a better job because I was on ground at yes, a top five ranked program. See you on the other side! I will pursue and land the job of my dreams.

There is some insanity to your comments. You say NPs are going away...so you are going to go to school to be one.

You say midwifery is going away. It's not.

I'm not sure what your sentence about being "on ground" means. You will be going or are going to a top 5 ranked program? Earlier you were going to go to get your NP. Now, there's something about a top 5 program. Ranked by who? I'm glad you think your program is superior to online programs. Your opinion is simply that...an opinion. Based on how well online programs are going I'm going to guess your opinion isn't being listened to.

There is some insanity to your comments. You say NPs are going away...so you are going to go to school to be one. You say midwifery is going away. It's not. I'm not sure what your sentence about being "on ground" means. You will be going or are going to a top 5 ranked program? Earlier you were going to go to get your NP. Now, there's something about a top 5 program. Ranked by who? I'm glad you think your program is superior to online programs. Your opinion is simply that...an opinion. Based on how well online programs are going I'm going to guess your opinion isn't being listened to.

I guess you have decided that insulting me is going to change my mind. Let me know when you even look at what the mds have done to midwifery in this country.I think my statements about my intentions are very plain. Shortly, I will move and attend a top ranked on ground graduate program. You ask by who? Well, who ranked yours? Probably us news and world report.As for why, I want to salvage something out of the absolutely idiotic choice I made to go into nursing. If the market changes, I will do something else.The only people that I think have a viable future are the crnas.

I guess you have decided that insulting me is going to change my mind. Let me know when you even look at what the mds have done to midwifery in this country.I think my statements about my intentions are very plain. Shortly, I will move and attend a top ranked on ground graduate program. You ask by who? Well, who ranked yours? Probably us news and world report.As for why, I want to salvage something out of the absolutely idiotic choice I made to go into nursing. If the market changes, I will do something else.The only people that I think have a viable future are the crnas.

I'm not looking to change your mind. I'm not trying to insult you. I just can't see the sanity in your statement s.

Jan 23, '13

Debate is good.

Bringing it on down to a personal level ... one-on-one, is usually never good as intent is lost and delivery of message is less-than-desirable.

We are professionals here. Please conduct youself as one (all posters). Quit making this a personal debate. Thanks for heeding this re-direct.

Jan 23, '13

I still remember a little of my "statistics for health care professionals" class. I must have either missed or forgot the part where one persons anecdotal observation, in one part of the country is sufficient to generalize a whole population. Maybe I should pull the old book out and review

I did a brick and mortar Psych CNS program and distance ed Psych NP at Rush. You will have both good and bad schools in both, however, at Rush we had a lot of case studies, same as we had in business school. It's more "real" than exams. It was also an advantage to be able to discuss things with people scattered all over creation vs in one locale.

I've done plenty of online courses during and since high school. Online courses were the only way high school students could take college courses for free at my high school during that time. When I was eligible to start taking college courses in high school the dual enrollment program had been suspended in my county due to federal funding issues. I was able to continue with online courses three the Learn and Earn Program. I am so thankful for that opportunity and I've certainly retained the I formation I learned in those courses. In every online course I've taken I never just had discussions and a final. I've had tests weekly or bi-weekly that was Proctored half if the time, and was always a timed test. On top of these weekly or bi-weekly tests I had to do discussion boards and reply, no less than 300 words,to 4 class mates post. Ive had finals in each course and in my hybrid science course I had to complete experiments at home with a kit thank was required for the course and video or take pictures of me completing that experiment thoroughly and submit a lab report. All of this of my own initiative, without the direct guidance and encouragement of a live professor. Online learning is becoming more and more valid, despite what some would like to make out.

It is really of little value to belittle the benefits of online education, when it has proven to be effective and shows absolutely no signs of being disbanded. It is simply unprofessional, unethical, and slightly stereotypical to make a generalized application that NPs resumed online are, in some way less than adequate because of your "limited" experiences.

It is a proven fact that in both brick and mortar schooling and online schooling that it is the student who makes the learning experience. A person can have the must horrible and useless instructor in the world, but if they truly want to learn, they will regardless.